Rowena threw the letter on the floor; in a fit of rage and gasping breath, she even threw down her unfinished glass of tea. Eleana was silent; she knew her mother's attitude and decided to let Rowena cool down for a while. Rowena was still slamming and even kicking the maids who were massaging her feet, making several of the maids scream in fear. Rowena's curse finally came out of her mouth to her little friend Rosella.

She also brought up some of the heartache Rosella had made because Rowena felt that she was always rivaled and behind her. Until everything subsided, her breathing started to become regular, and Rowena glanced at one box that she didn't throw away, namely the box Rosella had sent along with the letter. Slowly she opened the box.

Eleana peeked from the corner of her eyes, which gradually widened because of what was in the box. The contents of the box were the diamond they had been talking about earlier—the diamond Lady Eloise was wearing, much larger and in a beautiful ring shape. Eleana immediately covered her mouth in disbelief, while Rowena, who was equally shocked, seemed to be holding back that amazed expression.

"What did Doweger Duchess Rosella say in her letter, mother?" asked Eleana without taking her eyes off the diamond.

“She asked us to keep the Duke of Edinburgh's engagement to Katherine secret until the wedding. She promised to hold a lavish wedding if this was approved; she gave this as her regret," said Rowena, also looking at the diamond incessantly.

“Does that mean the match will be canceled if we don't agree to this?”

"It seems so," said Rowena while swearing, but the look in her eyes couldn't lie that she was amazed by Doweger Duchess Rosella's gift to her.

“She gave this diamond for free when many people were competing to get it. It's that easy for her to give diamonds like this, doesn't she like diamonds?” asked Eleana innocently.

“She had good taste since childhood; she was classy, and unfortunately she was elegant, not looking like a lady chasing diamonds and money. She's manipulative; I'm sure she's manipulative." Annoyed but happy to be able to get the most wanted diamond this year.

"You have to accept this; if you don't want to use it, I can keep it. Let me persuade Katherine to accept the match even if it's a secret."

"Damn it, it's mine, honey. Don't be sad; I told you I would get it before you." Rowena immediately tried on the diamond ring; it looked beautiful and shiny and fit perfectly on her ring finger. Rowena even looks exhausted with the diamond ring after wearing it. Eleana pouted; she wanted it and didn't know how to get it when she didn't have Thomas right now by her side. Eleana also did not get a large income; there, Thomas brought his own work and he brought his own income. Eleana still defended the man because she loved him and the child in her stomach—otherwise Eleana might have been looking for another nobleman to support herself.

"At least let me borrow it." Eleana looked pitiful, but Rowena would absolutely not give it away even if Eleana crawled at her feet.

"Mom said you really love me." Eleana started to get teary-eyed.

"No, you've gotten a lot of luxuries from your husband, and your mother never borrowed them." Rowena emphasized a few words in her speech to remind her daughter how she looked arrogant with her luxury, even to her own mother.

"But I bought a lot of diamonds for mom."

"That's an old series!" Rowena exclaimed. "What you use should not be the same as a gift. It wouldn't be funny if I wore the same jewelry as mom." Eleana launched her defense.

"That's right, you are just like me. I also don't want to share my stuff with anyone.” Rowena insisted. Just as Eleana was about to protest, they suddenly saw Katherine coming down from the second floor and looking at them, her eyes as if shocked by the chaos below and the tense atmosphere between mother and daughter.

Rowena hurried to pick up the letter she had thrown on the floor and hid it behind herself. "What is this?" Katherine asked when she got closer to the two of them.

"Mom, be honest; Kath should know about it." Eleana didn't look at all together; Rowena could only glance sarcastically at her daughter for not trying to follow her game. Eleana must have done it on purpose because Rowena didn't want to lend her the diamond ring that the Doweger Duchess Rosella had given her.

"Mother, what is this?"

"Nothing, Kath. Go back to your room and rest so that at your engagement party you will look fresh and fit.” Still with her hands behind her, Rowena shooed Katherine into her room. Katherine was certainly not stupid; she saw that her mother was hiding something, and seeing Eleana's expression, it seemed that this was what caused a fight between them.

"Mother, give me any object that you hide behind your body." Katherine stretched out her hand, ready to accept what Rowena had hidden, even if it would hurt her.

"It's okay, honey; come back to your room. If something happened, mom would tell you. It's just about a small mistake that Eleana made, and you don't have to bother dealing with it anymore because you will be getting engaged soon."

"It doesn't make any sense; you always ask Katherine to meddle in my affairs." Eleana chuckled. She drank the rest of the tea in her glass and motioned for the maids to clean up the mess her mother had made earlier.

“I can't be fooled, mother. Let me see it; give it to me.” Katherine's serious words were sometimes so scary and intimidating that Rowena finally gave her the letter she had hidden behind her. The letter finally reached Katherine's hand; without hesitation, Katherine read it and immediately changed her face.

“Doweger Duchess Rosella seems to have me as a backup for her son. Can you understand what that means?” Rowena nodded her head slowly.

"Then why are you still wearing the diamond ring she gave you? Are you willing that our family is degraded like this?” Hearing that Rowena immediately held the diamond ring on her ring finger, it was so hard to miss such a precious gift.

"If you want to keep it, it means you actually sold me. And it seems that I am overconfident as if I am really part of you, even though I will only be used and sold without knowing how I feel." Katherine dropped the letter on the floor; she immediately turned around and was about to go back to her room, but Eleana followed her. With her big belly, Eleana jogged to stop Katherine.

“Katherine, have you forgotten what I said? This is the first time you fell in love; will you miss it? In this world, who doesn't want to live with the man she loves, marry her, and spend her life alone with him? Even if it has to be by trapping, everyone is willing for the sake of love in her heart. You often read romance novels; of the many successful loves, some are done out of selfishness. You can't pass up the opportunity, right?"

"I will go to Edinburgh and cancel the engagement; if you don't want to take off the ring, then I will ask the Doweger Duchess Rosella to send someone to bring the ring here."

"Katherine, you will disappoint me if you actually go there and cancel your engagement plans." Eleana's words seemed to float in the air without any response; she watched Katherine walk out of the house with her determination so strong.

“Katherine!! Katherine Aldora!!” Eleana screamed, trying to stop Katheriene. Rowena was still able to hear their conversation and could only massage her aching head.

“Then, live as an old maid! Live alone forever!!” Eleana's words were so sharp and painful. But Katherine is still determined; she has self-respect, and every woman shouldn't be so obedient to a man and lose her own self-respect. Katherine didn't want that kind of marriage; she wanted to love and respect each other.

If the Duke of Edinburgh doesn't want this arranged marriage, why do the mothers push their will too hard and instead prioritize the feelings of their sons and daughters, who will live their own lives? Katherine spurred her horse fast; the cold air did not make her flinch and she continued to accelerate her horse's pace quickly. Some time passed on the streets, and finally Katherine arrived at the Duke of Edinburgh's mansion and waited for the guard to be given permission by the Duke to take Katherine inside.

With her body shivering, finally Katherine was let into the Duke's mansion, which was very spacious and wider than she had expected. Lots of maids and everything seemed luxurious; for a moment, Katherine suddenly imagined if she was the host there and Ashton as her husband. She will not be afraid that the food she eats is made of dirty money or not because she knows Ashton is a man who is honest in his work and very kindhearted.

Katherine was immediately directed to the Duke's office; he immediately stopped all these thoughts and went into his office. Katherine's eyes finally found Ashton busy at his desk; for God's sake, Ashton was so handsome. Thinking of how this man would become her husband, watching him work, and talking to him every day made Katherine suddenly shake.

“What brought Lady Katherine here? Please sit down and wait while I finish up my work a bit more.” Their eyes finally met; Ashton was still able to be kind and flashed his sweet smile that made Kahterine's heart suddenly stop beating.

"I just want to visit and try to be closer to you, Your Grace." In the end, Katherine was unable to cancel the match; she did not know the power of love would be this strong and stupid.